The Kids Are Disengaged
Topics for this week include students' declining positive attitude toward school, the benefits of structured kindness activities, and the power of writing.
The Friday Five
Become a SupporterHow do you motivate yourself to take action on the things you know you should do but haven't started? Which matters more: your physical and mental health or completing every task on your school to-do list?
I thought about these questions while participating in a wellness activity at school this past week. We had a menu of options to choose from. I decided to go on a ruck/walk with colleagues.
Teachers know what it's like to have a never-ending to-do list. I couldn't help but feel stressed thinking about all the work I had to do in my classroom. It was hard to adjust my attitude. Yet, in the big picture, I will be a less effective teacher and parent if I don't practice self-care. If I don’t have good health, where will I be then?
Sometimes, it takes an external force to nudge us in the right direction.
The ruck/walk was worth the missed work time. It’s what I needed.
Take a pause to prioritize your list of important tasks. It's hard not to see health and wellbeing at the top.
Reflection Questions
Share your thoughts, ideas, and or resources in a comment below. You never know who else will benefit from what you have to say.
- How can you create more opportunities for authentic student engagement in your classroom, especially considering the decline in student enthusiasm as they progress through grade levels?
- What specific steps could you take to implement kindness-focused activities in your teaching practice, and how might this impact your classroom culture?
- How could you better incorporate writing and positive social interactions into your daily routine to support your growth and your students' development?
The Friday Five
1 - Kids Really Don't Like School
A new Brookings Institution report reveals a significant disconnect between parents' optimistic views of their children's school experience and the reality reported by students, with over 70% of parents believing their children are learning a lot. At the same time, less than half of high schoolers agree. The data shows a dramatic decline in students' positive feelings about school as they age, with the percentage who "love" school dropping from 74% in third grade to just 29% by 12th grade. The report suggests that alternative schooling models emphasizing student autonomy and real-world applications could help address this widespread disengagement while also highlighting the need for better communication between schools and parents about student progress.
2 - Improve Student Well-Being: Be Kind
A Kindness Corner is a physical reminder of our shared responsibility to care for one another while teaching essential social-emotional skills that students will carry throughout their lives. Research shows that structured kindness activities can reduce bullying, improve academic performance, and enhance student well-being. By making kindness a visible daily practice, you can create an environment where empathy becomes second nature, and every student feels valued.
3 - Writing Makes You Strong
Social interactions and writing can reshape the brain through neuroplasticity. Positive relationships enhance emotional regulation and resilience—writing practices like daily reflection and gratitude journaling strengthen neural pathways, promoting personal growth and effective communication.
4 - It's Time
“You can never do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
5 - Teacher Commuter Playlist - I Got You by the Dojo Cuts
Golden Lines:
I'll tell you something / The mountains will move / There's a change coming / And roses will bloom
Choose Your Own Adventure
- Wild Unicorn (from Tisha Richmond) is an engaging classroom game that promotes creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking, supporting diverse learners through multiple modes of expression and fostering a fun, inclusive environment. It reinforces vocabulary and encourages teamwork while being adaptable to various subjects and learning needs.
- We’ve had a few Wellness Wednesday events after school this year. This past week, I enjoyed going on a ruck/walk with colleagues. Here’s a short clip.
- Here are 27 formative assessment strategies that will help you determine whether your students learned what you wanted them to.
Why Edify Recommendation Zone
- Owala Water Bottle *(ad) - These bottles have just replaced Stanley’s as the most popular water bottle with my 8th graders. I like them because they are small enough for my truck cup holder. Now, I have to decide what color to get.
- Pentel Energel Pens Metal Tip .7 *(ad) - I just ordered these and have to say they are smooth writing machines.
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